Family Therapy
I believe that there is room in our busy lives to create harmonious relationships with all family members. A well functioning family is one that celebrates, respects, and accepts the differences that each member brings to the family and enhances and allows for personal growth and expression of each individual. Issues of control and manipulation need to be addressed at times in therapy to foster positive interactions between all family members.
In our busy society and stressed out lives, we often forget to treat our loved ones with kindness and respect. In therapy, this essential component of a balanced life is explored and encouraged. My therapeutic approach invites children to be involved in creating positive interactions and to be of help in their small community. I support parents in establishing healthy boundaries, giving children clear messages, maintaining healthy and realistic expectations of their children, co-parenting effectively to enhance successful experiences for kids, and understanding the different developmental stages of children so parenting is clear and efficient.
As parents are engaged in raising their own children, they are sometimes also dealing with their own elderly parents. This situation can be quite challenging. My approach to multi generational families is also of genuine caring and creating a concise plan for parents to be able to do their dual job and to cope with difficulties that may arise.
In our busy society and stressed out lives, we often forget to treat our loved ones with kindness and respect. In therapy, this essential component of a balanced life is explored and encouraged. My therapeutic approach invites children to be involved in creating positive interactions and to be of help in their small community. I support parents in establishing healthy boundaries, giving children clear messages, maintaining healthy and realistic expectations of their children, co-parenting effectively to enhance successful experiences for kids, and understanding the different developmental stages of children so parenting is clear and efficient.
As parents are engaged in raising their own children, they are sometimes also dealing with their own elderly parents. This situation can be quite challenging. My approach to multi generational families is also of genuine caring and creating a concise plan for parents to be able to do their dual job and to cope with difficulties that may arise.
"Matilde has been like an angel for my family and me. Fate brought her to us when my late husband was first diagnosed with cancer and she shared her wisdom and gentle guidance as she counseled us through the difficult process of learning to live with cancer and then learning to let go as my husband passed from this life. She was instrumental in suggesting that specific things be done, like making audiotapes with my husband and children before he died, while at the same time she influenced an overall spiritual belief that helped me see the importance of his journey and encouraged me to cherish the time we had with him.
After he passed, Matilde supported me during a very dark time of my grief. She offered specific ways within our therapy to work through my emotions but also held space for me to grieve. She did not try to rush me or push me…she provided me with a safe place to truly experience my profound feelings so that I could eventually move through them. Not only did Matilde work with me, but she met with my children and in-laws as well. Her compassionate guidance helped us all make sense of a confusing time. My second daughter (age 12) particularly appreciated Matilde as their sessions helped her validate and express the complicated feelings of growing up as a teenager while dealing with the loss of her father.
During my time with Matilde, she explored beyond my grief into my life’s significant experiences…she considered the whole me. The gift of Matilde is that she helped clear the path of my life. She did not define it for me, she did not tell me which way I had to go. She provided the machete that cut down the tall weeds so I could find my way. She never lost faith in me that I have it inside me to do what I chose with my life…she saw the empowered woman that I am, even when I did not see it, and she guided me to see the spirit of myself."
-Tiffany, age 40, Orange County, CA